Search form

A Jesuit priest famous for his gang intervention programs in Los Angeles, Fr. Greg Boyle makes winsome connections between service and delight, and compassion and awe. He heads Homeboy Industries, which employs former gang members in a constellation of businesses. This is not work of helping, he says, but of finding kinship. The point of Christian service, as he lives it, is about “our common calling to delight in one another.”

Pertinent Posts

“You want people to recognize that they’re the truth of who they are — that they’re exactly what God had in mind when God made them.” ~Fr. Greg Boyle

Krista Tippett speaks with the Jesuit priest whose prison ministry has worked with some of the most violent, gang-ridden members in Los Angeles. A riveting hour and the second in our series of conversations from Chautauqua.

This heart- and mind-opening interview reminded me so much of your interview with Jean Vanier who, as I recall, lived with intellectually disabled adults and found the mutuality of love and delight in that commitment.

An old friend from the mindfulness tradition told me to dump my books and "practice". This amazing contact, thanks to Krista and NPR makes the same challenge. How do I avoid words like "delight," "awe," "connection"? Let's meet in our low places! Heck, let ME meet in in MY low place! Maybe we could send a copy of this to the Cardinals before they get into conclave!!

Fr. Boyle lives a catholic compassion that has eroded in the Roman Catholic church in the past couple of decades. Jesuits were never good about following papal doctrine - thank goodness. I would like to have a Pope who emphasizes compassion, forgiveness, love and service to everyone - not just those whom we deem worthy.

I listen regularly to On Being and always enjoy it. This interview with Father Greg Boyle is far and away the best episode I have heard! What an amazing testimony to what Christianity means. As always, Krista is an amazing interviewer and, clearly, Fr. Boyle is an inspired speaker, leader and healer. I will urge everyone I know to listen to this show. Thank you, Krista, and thank you Fr. Boyle for showing us how to live.

What a wonderful Sunday morning with On Being introducing me to Farher Boyle as my Sunday morning gift! I am a retired public school teacher and I was in tears thinking of all my male students who all of us have left out of our Communities.

A gift from the heart thank you Fr Greg Boyle and Krista Tibbets-On Being.
"Be the mythe you want to unfold" Rumi
Moon Language and the God Who Only Knows Four Words...Come Dance With Me are my favorites from Hafiz.

I live in Tel Aviv, and so download the show's podcasts and listen anywhere, anytime. This episode with Fr. Boyle I have been listening to repeatedly, each time learning something I didn't quite catch or understand the previous time(s). He is one of those angels on earth in the guise of a human being — a uniquely intuitive, devoted, creative genius in his faith, reflection, and action. I want him to be a MacArthur Fellow! How do we help make this happen? Kudos to Krista for the series, finding such gems, and engaging with them honestly and thoroughly, spreading their positive messages and examples worldwide.

Fr. Boyle is truly inspirational. I'm recently retired and struggling to add more meaning to my existence. When I hear Fr. Boyle speak I feel more able to find the path which I am seeking. I may have just taken one of the many steps which lie ahead as I learn about the "vastness" of Jesus and his plan for me. Thank you Father Boyle and Krista Tippett.

This was so moving because of Fr. Boyle's very real connection to these young people. In working with troubled youth for 14 years, I conclude that we who do this work need to provide more skills, more work opportunities for them. But what Fr. Boyle made so crystal clear was their empty-ness and their need to find their own worth. He models the kind of relationships needed to help these changes take place. I will share this with those in my community who may run with it - it was an electric charge to me. Krista, it may be because it was so close to home, but I think this was exceptional

I pray that Cardinal Rodriguez of Honduras will be elected Pope. He is one with the poor and was ordained in Guatemala in 1970. Besides, he was the only smiling Cardinal I saw amongst the Cardinals listed as possible replacements for our Holy Father Benedict XVI Emeritus. JMJ pray for us that we too may be a holy family. We listened to the reading of Fr. Boyle's book while we ate lunch at DeMontreville Retreat Ctr for Holy Men in Lake Elmo, MN.

thank you krista tippet & Fr. Boyle whose compassion through service to gangs reminded me of my volunteer street work with a Quaker project for the NYC Bowery homeless, then as a community organizer which led to directing a self help program in the 70's. The homeless, yearning to connect, to belong, were valued, counseled & when stabilized, were encouraged to help the more needy homeless & in the daily duties of running the community multi service center. Many became members, counselors, short order cooks & countermen in the luncheonette, or got jobs in the wider community, or invited on the board of directors. At times, I helped someone directly to shelter or the sobering up station. I felt no separation: the divine light within that person was the same as the one within me. I never felt so whole.
i am grateful to Krista & Fr Boyle.

"It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater. It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love"
"The true measure of humanity is essentially determined in relationship to suffering and to the sufferer. This holds true both for the individual and for society. A society unable to accept its suffering members and incapable of helping to share their suffering and to bear it inwardly through “com-passion” is a cruel and inhuman society. Yet society cannot accept its suffering members and support them in their trials unless individuals are capable of doing so themselves; moreover, the individual cannot accept another's suffering unless he personally is able to find meaning in suffering, a path of purification and growth in maturity, a journey of hope. Indeed, to accept the “other” who suffers, means that I take up his suffering in such a way that it becomes mine also. Because it has now become a shared suffering, though, in which another person is present, this suffering is penetrated by the light of love. The Latin word con-solatio, “consolation”, expresses this beautifully. It suggests being with the other in his solitude, so that it ceases to be solitude. Furthermore, the capacity to accept suffering for the sake of goodness, truth and justice is an essential criterion of humanity, because if my own well-being and safety are ultimately more important than truth and justice, then the power of the stronger prevails, then violence and untruth reign supreme."

These words are from a wise man, one who understands the heart of man. I would say that Fr. Greg has lived them.
I laud most of all that he sees service as a means not an end. Activism is one of the most dehumanizing aspects of modern society. It too easily kills the soul of good works. Communion and Encounter are the end.

I laughed, I cried, I prayed. As a deacon in Atlanta we work with many of the same issues. The approach of acceptance, respect and love produces positive outcomes. How can you love those in need? We by faith are called to make a difference.
One smile for a chaplain in court or the federal prison here in Atlanta opens the doors to new life for those most in need

Had the privilege of meeting with "G" at Homeboy Industries. An amazing man surrounded by amazing young men and women whose life stories filled me with hope. Father Boyle's "no matter what" spirit has inspired me to start a social enterprise here in Philadelphia. His book is a must read.

omg. thank you, thank you, thank you both for such an inspiring conversation. Although I've accidentally heard several of your shows over the past few years, after hearing this one I've finally realized that ON BEING (and you, Krista) are hands down my favorite program on the air. I so appreciate the way that your programs integrate your heart, mind, and soul. Thank you, Father Boyle, for being such an incredible voice for the God that has sustained me throughout my life - it's so sad that I so rarely find voices like yours. I can't tell you how exciting and refreshing it was to hear you today. I will be sharing this with everyone that I know for quite some time. I don't really have the words to describe my reaction to so many of the things that you shared during this interview. Looking forward to reading your book.

As good as the program was with Fr. Greg Boyle, last Sunday I went to the website to listen to the unedited version, even though nothing in the program suggested that it would be available. Nothing additional. Today my chagrin from a week ago was allayed because the unedited version is now posted. I can't tell you how much it means to me see that. There were things said in Krista's commentary that spoke to the unedited version, which spoke to me as a Catholic Christian as things that need to be said... and heard. I'm grateful for On Being as a resource in my life, for the broadcast themselves and the unedited versions and other resources that you provide.

I love what you do. I'm a commercial driver. I listen to On Being every Sunday and it is such a pleasure to here of all the good that is still going on despite all the chaos. I thought you would appreciate knowing that there is one more person out there listening and feeling so grateful for those that are working towards improving the lives of others. I listen to 89.5 out of the Harrisburg area in Pennsylvania. Also 90.9 out of Philly, I'm driving so I have to change stations through out my day. God bless you all.